Can opener



B. L. HENRY CAN OPENER May s, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1953 May 8, 1956 B, HENRY 2,744,653

CAN OPENER Filed April 1e, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 f/ "Y f INVENToR. g1g 55mm/l 0a/fe /SEMQ/ ffraQA/f/sk fwd@ f United States Patent O CAN OPENER Beulah Louise Henry, New York, N. Y. Application April 16, 1953, serial No. 349,226

1 Claim. (cl. 22o-s2) This invention relates to a can opener for opening cans of the type having a tearing strip formed in a wall thereof and which connects the cover with the body of the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opener for removing the tearing strip from the can, which as it is torn from the can is wound in tight even formation on the opener and is retained thereon against lateral movement. y

Still another object of the invention is to provide a can opener which includes a key pivoted for rotation in a frame member and on which key the tearing strip is wound into tight spiral formation within the confines of the frame member so as to retain the wound strip against lateral movement on the key.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of said character in which the frame is of flat formation and is formed with bearings located on opposite sides of a central opening therein and in which bearings the key is mounted for rotation with an aperture in the key disposed in alignment with the opening in the frame for receiving an end of the tearing strip for winding the same on the key within the opening in the frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a frame of said character which is adapted to 4engage the edge of the ange or head of the can for guiding the movement of the key circumferentially about the can.

With the foregoing'and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated,

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can of the type having a tearing strip adapted to be removed for disconnecting the cover and illustrating a can opener embodying the invention secured to the under side thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the can showing the can opener in applied position on the can and the tearing strip partly wound thereon.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the can opener.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of can opener embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the can opener 10 is adapted for opening sheet metal cans of the type having a tearing strip 11 defined by the score or weakened lines 12 and 13 which extends continuously about the can as a part of the peripheral wall 14 and is formed with a protruding tongue 15. The upper end of the wall 14 is connected with a top wall 16 by a rim 17. A band 19 is located within the peripheral wall 14 and is connected therewith adjacent the top thereof by a rib 20. The band 19 remains in position on the wall 14 when the tearing strip 11 is removed to free the top wall 16 together with a portion of the peripheral wall 14 adjacent the rim 17.

2,744,653 Patented May 8, 1956 ICC The can opener 10 indicated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive of the drawings, includes a key 22 having a slot 23 in the shank 24 thereof to receive the tongue 15 for effecting a Winding of the tearing strip 11 on the shank 23 by turning the key.

In order to guide the 'key circumferentially about the can and to effect winding of the tearing strip 11 thereon in tight even formation, a frame member 25 i-s provided which is formed with a central opening 26 preferably of rectangular formation and which is of a width slightly larger than the width of the tearing strip 11 for receiving the tearing strip in wound formation therein. The frame is provided with bearings 27 in opposite side walls thereof in which the key is journaled for rotation with the slot 23 located centrally of the opening 26. The frame 25 is formed with a forward edge 28 which is adapted to engage beneath the peripheral edge of the downturned rirn 17 to thereby seve as a guide to dispose the slotted portion of the key centrally of the width of the tearing strip 11. l

The key 22 together with the frame member 25 are adapted to be retained in position on one end of the can, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. As illustrated therein the flattened end 30 of the shank 24 is soldered or otherwise aixed to the bottom wall 31 of the can and when the can opener is to be used, the key 22 is readily broken from the attened end 30 at the weakened line 32. In using the key, the tongue 15 of the tearing strip 11 is inserted in the slot 23 with the edge 28 of the frame member 25 located under the edge of the downturned portion of the rim 17. The key 22 is then turned to effect a tearing of the tearing strip ll'from the peripheral wall 14 along the score or weakened lines 12 and 13 and to wind the tearing strip in tightly wound formation on the shank 24 of the key within the opening 26 of the frame member 25. The frame member retains the tearing strip in a tightly wound roll so as to prevent lateral displacement of any of the convolutions thereof while the engagement of the frame member under the rim 17 serves as a guide for retaining the slotted portion of the key in alignment with the tearing -strip as the key is moved peripherally about the can.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the can opener includes a handle member 40 having a shank 41 secured in the end thereof to project outwardly in longitudinal prolongation of the handle 40 and on which a frame member 42 is mounted. The frame member 42 is formed with bearings 43 and 44 in which the shank 41 is mounted for turning movement on opposite sides of a central opening 45. The shank 41 is formed with a slot 46 which opens through the outer end thereof and which terminates as at 47 adjacent the inner edge of the opening 45 for receiving the tongue of the tearing strip as illustrated in the previous form of the invention.

The frame member 42 is integrally formed with an enlarged cylindrical portion 48 which is adapted to abut against the handle member 40 and to freely rotate on the shank 41 when positioned thereagainst. The shank 41 is provided with a right hand threaded portion 49 and with an undercut portion 50, while the enlarged portion 48 of the frame member is formed with an annular recess 51 and with a right hand interiorly threaded portion 52 extending from said recess 51 through the inner face thereof. When the frame member 42 is in position on the "shank 41 with the enlarged portion 48 in bearing engageon the shank. When the tearing strip is in wound formation on the shank, the frame member may then be rotated to engage the threaded portion 52 of the enlarged portion 48 with the threaded portion 49 of the shank. This will effect an outward movement of the frame member 42 to force the rolled strip through the slot 46. The frame member may then be removed from the shank 41 and the tearing strip discarded. This permits of the repeated use of the frame member 42.

What is claimed is:

A can opener for opening a can having a tearing strip formed as a part of the peripheral wall thereof, said can opener including a handle having a shank provided with a slot opening through the outer end thereof, a member having an enlarged plate-like inner end and a flat plate portion projecting substantially perpendicularly outwardly from `said enlarged inner end, said at portion having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough outwardly of said enlarged inner end of a width slightly wider, in a direction perpendicularly of said enlarged inner end, than the width of the tearing strip, said member having an opening extending edgewise through said at plate portion perpendicular to said plate-like inner end and in alignment with another opening extending perpendieularly through said enlarged plate-like inner end, said last mentioned openings receiving and journaling said shank with the slotted portion of the shank extending across said first mentioned opening to receive and retain one end of the tearing strip, said shank being freely rotatable in said last mentioned openings for winding the tearing strip thereon and being removable from said member for rcmoving the wound tearing strip outwardly through the end of the slot, and said enlarged inner end engaging against said handle on one side of Said enlarged inner end and being adapted to engage against the head of the can on the other vside of said enlarged inner end for guiding the movement of said at portion about the peripheral wall ofthe can.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,296 Clemens Aug. 31, 1915 1,911,613 Epstein May 30, 1933 2,612,287 Snook Sept. 30, 1952 2,649,990 Lyle Aug. 25, 1953 2,660,331 Inman Nov. 24, 1953 2,680,537 Dzialdowski June 8, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 372,324 Germany Oct. 6, 1920 514,790 Germany Dec. 17, 1930 554,062 Great Britain June 17, 1943 

